Mushfiqur Rahim smashed a fastest ton by a Bangladeshi batter as the Tigers racked up 349-6, its highest ever ODI total in the second one-day International against Ireland at the Sylhet
International Cricket Stadium on Monday. They indeed took just 48 hours to break their previous record which was 338-8 against the same team in the first match.
But the day's highlight was the century of Mushfiqur Rahim, who made 100 not out, clattering 14 fours and two sixes. He reached the century off just 60 balls in the last delivery of the innings, making him the fastest centurion of Bangladesh. He eclipsed Shakib Al Hasan who owned it for the last 14 years, having completed his century off 63 balls against Zimbabwe in 2009.
The Tigers which won the first game by a record 183 runs, is eying to wrap up the three-match series by winning this game.
Opener Liton Das made a fluent 71 ball-70, clobbering three fours and as many sixes while Najmul Hossain Shanto struck three fours and two sixes for his 73 off 77. Towhid Hridoy who made 92 on his debut missed out consecutive second 50 plus score, being dismissed on 49.
Put into bat first in the overcast condition, Bangladesh made a watchful start as they scored just five runs in the first four overs. Captain Tamim Iqbal took the onus to pace the scoreboard and came after pacer Mark Adair, hitting him a four.
Out-of-form Tamim looked confident to get back amongst runs but was trapped run out by a direct hit of Adair from short fine leg as he scored 23. During this knock, he became the first Bangladeshi batter to score 15000 runs in three formats of the cricket.
Shanto, who joined Liton, could have gone for 6 had Harry Tector could have hold on a chance at backward point off Curtis Campher bowling.
However, he made the life count, having shared 101 runs with Liton for the second wicket stand. The partnership was instrumental in Bangladesh's another record total.
Liton's innings was almost chanceless and a treat to watch as he took the Irish bowlers in disdain. He reached his eighth 50, pulling debutant Matthew Humphreys for a six over long-on off 54 balls.
As he looked set to pick up his sixth century, Campher brought an end to his innings with back of length delivery that he flicked straight to Andy McBrine.
Hume who claimed 4-60 in the last match, sparked a mini collapse, dismissing Shakib Al Hasan (19) and Shanto then in his consecutive two overs to leave Bangladesh at 190-4.
In came Mushfiqur and right from the start, he made his intention clear. He sent the Irish bowlers at the receiving end, unleashing some powerful shots around the wicket.
Towhid also showed the steely resolve which gave Mushfiqur more freedom to express himself.
Mushfiqur who missed out his 50 in the last match by six runs, this time completed half-century off 33 balls, slashing Mark Adair a six over deep point.
As he milked runs at will, Adair got rid of Hridoy, ending 128-run partnership between him and Mushfiqur.
But the partner's dismissal hardly made impact on Mushfiqur as he bludgeoned the bowlers to reach his ninth hundred, clipping a delivery of Hume for single at mid wicket in the last ball of the match.
Thanks to his sheer aggressive batting, Bangladesh scored 108 runs in the last 10 overs. Hume was the most successful bowler for Ireland one again with 3-58.
